Severity of anxiety and depression in patients undergoing aortic valve replacement surgery

Aim of the study
Assessment of the level of anxiety, depression, and irritability in patients undergoing aortic valve replacement surgery.

Material and methods
The study was conducted in a group of 20 patients treated with transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) and 25 patients undergoing aortic valve replacement (AVR) in one of the cardiac surgery departments in Warsaw, Poland. The research material was collected using an originally developed questionnaire and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale-Modified (HADS-M).

Results
A total of 17 patients were operated on for the first time, and 28 had a history of prior surgical intervention. A total of 26 patients waited for the procedure less than 30 days. A total of 18 study patients declared their full orientation towards the surgical procedure. In the anxiety subscale, normal scores were noted in 19 patients, nine cases were borderline, and abnormalities were observed in 17 patients. In the depression and irritability subscale, 30 patient scores were recognised as normal, nine cases as borderline, and six as abnormal.

Conclusions
Approximately 40% of patients prepared for surgical aortic valve replacement (regardless of the type of surgery to be performed) demonstrate abnormalities in the subscales of anxiety, and depression, and irritability. The level of patient orientation towards the procedure and the waiting time for surgery are not factors differentiating the severity of anxiety, depression, and irritability in patients undergoing aortic valve replacement. Higher levels of anxiety, depression, and irritability are observed in individuals who have previously had surgery than in first-time surgery patients. The level of perceived anxiety is higher in women.